Gahanna mulls May ballot for income-tax hike

Gahanna Mayor Becky Stinchcomb asked Gahanna City Council on Jan. 14 to place a measure on the spring ballot that would change the city’s income-tax rate from 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent beginning in January 2014.

In conjunction with the request, Stinchcomb is asking council to adjust the credit given to residents who pay income taxes to other municipalities from 83.3 percent to 100 percent.

“The voters have to decide to have the people who work here invest in our city at the same rate at which the people who live here and work almost anyplace else invest,” Stinchcomb said. “This is why I say we need to reform our tax code. The formula we are recommending actually will result in local tax savings for the majority of our taxpayers.”

She said the proposed tax reform would close an $8 million gap the city faces and would align Gahanna’s tax structure with the direction of the region.

“Most of our residents will see little to no change in their local tax bill, and they will reap the benefits of the investment we will be able to make in the community,” Stinchcomb said.

To meet the Franklin County Board of Elections deadline for the May ballot, council must pass a resolution to allow it to go to the voters by Feb. 6.

For more on this story, read the Jan. 17 edition of ThisWeek Rocky Fork Enterprise.